The United States has seized two sanctioned “ghost fleet” oil tankers in back-to-back predawn operations, including one in the North Atlantic and another near the Caribbean, federal officials confirmed Wednesday.
The coordinated seizures targeted the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor Tanker Sophia, both of which were either last docked in Venezuela or en route there. The operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard working in close coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense.
In a statement released Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the operations were carried out under President Trump’s directive to aggressively enforce sanctions and disrupt illicit oil trafficking tied to Venezuela.
According to Noem, the Motor Tanker Bella I had been actively attempting to evade U.S. authorities for weeks. Officials say the vessel changed its flag and even painted a new name on its hull while being pursued in an effort to avoid seizure.
Despite those efforts, the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Munro tracked and pursued the tanker across the high seas, navigating severe weather conditions before executing a successful boarding under a federal warrant.
“The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this vessel through treacherous storms, keeping diligent watch and protecting our country,” Noem said. “These brave men and women deserve our nation’s thanks for their selfless devotion to duty.”
Officials say the seizures are part of a broader U.S. crackdown on sanctioned maritime networks used to transport illicit Venezuelan oil, which authorities say helps fund narco-terrorism and destabilize the Western Hemisphere.
“The world’s criminals are on notice,” Noem said. “You can run, but you can’t hide. We will never relent in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco-terrorism wherever we find it.”
Federal officials emphasized that the blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil remains in full effect worldwide, signaling that vessels attempting to evade U.S. sanctions will be pursued and intercepted wherever they operate.
Following the announcement, the Department of Defense’s Rapid Response account reposted comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued a blunt warning.
“The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” Hegseth said.
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